Fall for Me

three

~ l e o r a

I DRIED AWAY my tears as the guards guided me down the streets and toward the same black car which had been parked there a mere few hours ago. Before the car stood a few more guards, their bodies stiff. The caps they had over their heads covered most of their faces, so it was difficult to see what they looked like. When I finally reached the vehicle, one of the guards flung open the door and the queen jumped out, not bothering to smooth her dress as she embraced me tightly.

"Leorane, dear, I am so delighted to see you." She leaned away to study me. "Where have you been all this time?"

I peered over my shoulder and could see the distinct outline of the farmhouse silhouetted against the darkening sky. The last of the sun cast a flickering glow above the house, making a ring of orange and pinkish hue of light around it like a halo. I felt another round of tears threatening to escape, but I blinked them back and faced the woman I was meant to call mother.

"Is everything alright, Leorane?" The queen caressed my cheek and I pulled away instinctively.

Leorane. I was full of anger and immediately hated the name. 

That name tore my family apart.

If leaving with the royal family meant protecting my own family, then I was willing to go along with it, but how long could I keep going for? How long could I hold on for? How long until I despised every inch of this country; how long until I despised every root of every plant and every petal of every flower? 

How long would they force me to be someone I'm not?

"Leorane-" 

"It's Leora," I interrupted, almost growling at her.

Before the queen could finish whatever she was about to say, I pushed past and dropped low, avoiding hitting my head on the roof of the vehicle as I dived into the car.

As I slid in, I was met by the unbearable scent of perfume. It numbed my nose and I switched to breathing through my mouth. Four girls sat opposite me, their lithe figures perfectly poised. They each had their hands in their laps and an adoring smile on their lips. Their faces were covered in so much makeup that I couldn't even tell whether they actually looked like what they were right now. One of the girls in the middle's jaw fell wide open when she noticed what I was wearing. I ignored her and scooted to the side, so that I was further away from the queen, who sat herself down on her leather seats next to me with the effortless grace of a ballerina.

The car was undeniably brand new. The sides were a light beige, identical to the color of the seats, which faced each other. A small screen had been attached to the door, along with a compartment for food and drinks. The screen was on and a picture of the princess was flashing across it. The sound of the reporter's voice was playing in the background, but I wasn't listening. Instead, I was gaping at the photo. The girl had silky dark brown hair strung with pearls and jewels, the strands flowing down her bare shoulders. She wore a matching necklace and her eyes stared forwards, a hidden smile beneath the jade green orbs. 

My eyes flickered upward, and I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the tinted car window. The resemblance between me and the princess was manifest. We owned the same high cheekbones, the same light eyes and the same shade of hair. We could pass as a clone of one another, which made me realize that this was the reasons they thought I was the princess. We carried the same flaws, but she hid them well under the layer of makeup and the stiff, brocaded gown.

I whirled around and wanted so badly to let the queen and her daughters know that they were mistaken and only took me because I looked like the princess, even though we were miles apart personality-wise, but I mentally groaned when I realized that they wouldn't believe me anyway.

The air around us was suddenly silent and it was then that I realized I was riding in a car for the first time. In the village, everyone would always travel on foot or ride wagons, which was rarely seen. The car was steady and moved along the road smoothly and soundlessly, never changing its pace. Through the window, I could see the hills rolling along the side of the highway, synchronizing with the rhythm of the car.

All of a sudden, the view of a familiar meadow emerged from within the trees. The lengthy stalks of green and yellow grass drag along in the wind, pirouetting under the candescent sun. Clusters of wildflowers whirled about, petals and leaves twirling together with voluminous clouds flowing overhead. Soaring trees rocked gingerly, as if afraid they would suddenly break. Through the haze of grass and flowers, a hunched figure crouched forlornly, eyes cast down. I could easily tell it was a male, for the figure's shoulders were broad and they sat in a way a female would never dare to. I straightened.

Who was that? No one ever went to this meadow apart from Rylan and I, and it most likely wouldn't be Rylan because he would still be working his shift down at the market, unless he had taken a day off, which he rarely did. 

The effulgent sun behind him blazed like a spreading fire and swallowed his figure, engulfing him in a tsunami of pure, golden light. As we sped past, he raised his head, and through the window, I was met by a pair of sorrowful eyes, the ghostly, honey-colored orbs spinning with anguish. I gasped inwardly at the similarity between the male and Rylan.   

A full second later, it hit me. It was Rylan.

But as soon as I registered who he was, we were already tearing past the meadow. My back hit the backing of the seat and my arms fell limp in my lap. I had almost smiled at the sight of Ryan, but then I had abruptly remembered what had happened the night before.

I really had lost everything. 

~*~

When my eyes fluttered open, my ears were met with the unfamiliar sound of silence. A low groan escaped my lips when I rolled my head to the side, my neck searing with pain. Stretching, I sat up and looked down. I was dressed in a white robe of silk and my hair had been brushed back into a loose braid. Instantly, I began to panic, numberless questions erupting inside my mind.

What had happened?

Whipping my head around, I scanned my surroundings and my eyes widened in horror. The ceiling of the room was dome-shaped, and a sublime chandelier hung from it, reflecting the sunlight seeping through the thin satin curtains draping over the glass doors leading to the balcony. A row of photos in golden frames were plastered across the faded lilac wall opposite me, staring back at me blankly. I recognized some of them as the princess and her sisters. Their wide smiles were like chisels, cruelly chipping away at my heart.

Staggering out of bed, my feet found themselves in a pair of warm slippers of white fur and I dropped my head into my palm, the back of my neck thudding in pain. My other hand gripped the fabric of the robe and I couldn't help the sob that escaped my lips. I tried to bite back the tears, but they spilled over nonetheless, pouring down my face endlessly.

I was locked up somewhere I never wanted to be in and I had lost the people who mattered to me the most. Another stab of raw agony clawed through my chest, a gaping hole forming in its wake. 

Just as my knees were about to buckle beneath me, a knock jerked me back and I raised my head instantly, my neck flaring up in pain once again. I cursed silently and rubbed a palm against the base of my neck. A girl carrying a silver tray covered with cups and biscuits trailed in, her eyes glued to the floor beneath her. Fumbling with the long robe, I stumbled toward her, my hands tangling in the rough material of her sleeves. She looked terrified, but I didn't care. I needed to know what had happened.

"W-What happened?" I stuttered, searching her eyes. Her expression was of confusion and surprise. I hung on, compelling her to answer my question.

"Your Highness, please let go," she said firmly. I shook my head.

"What happened? What am I doing here?"

"Princess, this is your home." Her voice shifted tones when she saw all the blood drain from my face. "Is everything alright?"

My feet moved on their own accord and seconds later, I was sprinting down the hall, the tendrils of hair which had worked their way out of the braid flailing wildly in all directions. In the background, I could hear the maid's calls, and gradually, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall I was currently dashing through. Without looking behind me, I swerved to the side and almost smacked my head against the sharp point of the banister of the staircase. Recovering from the shock, I clung on to the relief I felt and scurried down the stairs, my head pounding furiously with each careless step. The wooden frame of a door came into view and I pounced for it, but before my finger could latch around the handle, strong arms yanked me back.

I shrieked, my arms and legs thrashing about helplessly. The person who had grabbed me grunted and said something, but I couldn't make it out for I was desperately struggling against his hold, my fingernails mercilessly digging into his hands. He hissed loudly but didn't let go. A few more figures emerged from somewhere behind me and grasped my legs and pried my arms away from the first guard. I howled in despair and tried to kick and swing at the men, which, coming from me, was completely ineffective.

A booming voice broke through my wrestling and I tilted my head, my breath hitching inside my throat, my chest heaving up and down beneath my tattered robe. A man was marching our way, hands clutching the lapel of his dress coat. I recognized him immediately.

It was the king, and he had a look of pure murder in his dark eyes.